Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 Concord leads 12 of 22 categories
Concord
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
El Cajon
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,661 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
El Cajon, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Concord
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,686 vs $2,137)
Homes cost $113k less ($593,500 vs $706,700)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $43,661/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$43,661
$107,789 vs $64,128/yr
Concord
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
El Cajon
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
El Cajon
Violent Crime
10% lower
434.4 vs 484.6 per 100k
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$113k less
$593,500 vs $706,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | El Cajon, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $593,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 105,721 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs El Cajon's 111.5 (US average = 100).
El Cajon is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 22 categories. Concord wins 12 and El Cajon wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Concord to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $593,500 median home), income ($107,789 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and El Cajon, CA are about 456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.